408 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



OKNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FEOM EYE. 

 By Boyd Alexander. 



With the end of September migration practically came to an 

 end. While the movement lasted the coast was filled with bird- 

 voices familiar to the shore. At low water parties of Gulls, 

 including both the Herring and Black-headed species, immature 

 and adult, appeared on the sands, while, amongst all this pre- 

 dominant white plumage, the black backs of a few Larus marinus 

 often riveted the eye; but the majority of the last-named kept 

 out at sea, following in the wake of trawlers in expectation of 

 seizing the small fry that were thrown overboard. And when the 

 weather became warm and fine, and bits of rolling cloud threw 

 bright nigrescent shadows upon the sands, and the sea was full of 

 one limitless drowsy tone, the Gulls lined the water's edge in 

 clustering hundreds, choosing for their large webbed feet the 

 portion of the sand that was smooth and not freckled by many 

 stones, in preference to that which it had become the mould of tiny 

 ebbing waves. On a spot like this they stood for a long while 

 motionless, looking all dazzling white — things of rare marble in 

 the tide's ever-changing and varied gallery. Further inland on 

 the sands the rattling cry of the Turnstone, the plaintive notes 

 of the Einged Plover, and the tremulous whistle of the Dunlin 

 would fitfully strike the ear. 



Again, further inland still, beyond the sea-wall, the Lydd 

 Beach became for a brief time the resting station of many 

 Curlews, whose cries were more persistent and noisy than those of 

 all the other shore birds put together. The thick and dark nights, 

 consequent on bad weather experienced throughout September, 

 rendered observation of the migration flights southward of many 

 species impossible, and it was only by the occurrence of stragglers 

 that any idea of the progress and order of these flights could be 

 arrived at. 



I take the following notes, which may be of interest, from my 

 diary during my stay this autumn on the Eye coast: — 



Aug. 24th. Strong south-westerly wind. Three big flocks of 

 Curlew, each numbering on an average 200 birds, have come to 

 the Lydd Beach. They appeared from the north-eastward. 



Aug. 25th. Light westerly wind, showery. The flocks of 



